Mannion in regal form as Galway topple Cats in a thriller

IN the third instalment of a five-part series, Patrick Earley reflects on his most memorable Galway senior hurling matches over the past 15 years. This week he puts the spotlight on those games rated from 9 to 7.

#9

2012 All-Ireland Championship Final (drawn game)

 Galway 2-13

 Kilkenny 0-19

Sunday, September 9, Croke Park

A first All-Ireland final appearance in seven years, coming in off the back of a first ever Leinster title – it’s fair to say anticipation was at fever-pitch ahead of this mammoth clash with Kilkenny.

Expectations were high and after a fine opening half, Galway looked primed to end their 25-year drought but in the end, it all came down to Joe Canning’s last-gasp free from under the Hogan Stand to tie it up.

That moment, as Canning addressed the sliotar, with the hopes of an entire county pinned on his shoulders, and the outpouring of emotion as the ball sailed straight between the posts was truly magical.

A game which was all about Galway in the first half, had almost slipped from their grasp but they deservedly earned a second bite of the cherry but it wasn’t to be on that occasion alas.

The 2012 drawn All-Ireland was the most underwhelming final of its time as regards free-flowing hurling when you consider the games played in the years prior to and after it, but the drama in this game rivalled any.

At half-time, Galway led by five points and should have been further ahead in truth after another blistering start, not quite to the same affect as that year’s Leinster final but 28 minutes in, the Tribesmen led 1-7 to 0-3.

With the switch of Henry Shefflin from corner-forward onto the 40, Kilkenny were a different team in the second half and by the 54th minute had regained the lead but 60 seconds later, Niall Burke had the ball in the back of the net at the other end.

Tension filled the air from there and a stunning James Skehill save denied Colin Fennelly and after the Galway ‘keeper conceded a penalty shortly before full-time, Shefflin took his point to hand the Cats the most-slender of leads.

That paved the way for Canning to send the All-Ireland final to a replay for the first time since 1959.

Galway: J Skehill; J Coen, K Hynes, F Moore; N Donohue (0-1), T Regan, D Collins; I Tannian, A Smith (0-1); D Hayes, N Burke (1-2), C Donnellan; D Burke, J Canning (1-9, 0-8 frees), J Regan. Subs used: C Cooney, J Glynn, J Cooney, D Glennon.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.